Vintage Guitar Collectors Association buys, sells instruments

The International Vintage Guitar Collection Association stopped in the Valley as residents brought in their instruments to be sold. The association also made a $2,500 contribution to Liberty Township School District's music program.

Chris Farran said he was not too surprised to find out that his family heirloom, a’68 Fender Telecaster guitar, was worth thousands of dollars.

“It was a gift in my family for several years,” he said sitting at a table with Bob Consiglio — a buyer from the International Vintage Guitar Collectors Association.

The association, which travels from city to city buying instruments and auctioning them off at Heritage Auctions, made a stop at the Quality Inn on Belmont Avenue. They’ll be there 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from today to Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

“Of course vintage guitars are our main focus,” Greg Taylor from the IVGCA said. “But we do all musical instruments.”

The room was lined with guitars like vintage Stratocasters, Les Pauls and more that the association looks for to later auction off to other collectors and professional musicians.

Girard resident John Duruttya brought in his 1946 saxophone and ’47 clarinet.

He said he used to play the instruments in high school and in the Navy but after leaving and working overtime while raising a family, he never really touched them again. Now retired, he still doesn’t play.